MODULE - I

UNDERSTANDING
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
 Objective

The stellar universe is not so difficult of

comprehension as the real actions of other people.

—Marcel Proust
 Focus Areas

Quantitative
Economics Accounting Finance
techniques
“M.B.A. students may get by on their
technical and quantitative skills the first
couple of years out of school. But soon,
leadership and communication skills come to
the fore in distinguishing the managers
whose careers really take off.”

-Director of leadership
MIT’s Sloan School of Management
What Managers Do ?

MANAGER
 Consciously
Coordinated

Two or more

Continuous basis

Common goals
MINTZBERG’S MANAGERIAL ROLES
•Figure head
Interpersonal •Leader
roles •Liaison

Informational •Monitor
•Disseminator
roles •Spokesperson

•Entrepreneur
Decisional •Disturbance handler
•Resource allocator
roles •Negotiator
 Human Conceptual
Technical
Effective versus Successful Managerial Activities
 Organizational Behavior
Groups

Individuals Structure

Behavior within organisations

Organization's
Effectiveness
Contributing disciplines to the OB Field

Micro: Psychology
The Individual

Sociology

Social Psychology

Macro: Anthropology
Groups &
Organizations
 Few absolutes in Organizational Behaviour
• Few, if any, universal principles explain organizational
behaviour.
• Human beings are complex.
• We are not alike.
• Two people act very differently in the same situation.
• Same person’s behaviour changes in different situations.
• Organizational behaviour concepts must reflect situational or
contingency conditions.
Dramatic changes in Organizations
■ Typical employee is getting older
■ More women and people of color are in the
workplace.
■ Corporate downsizing and the heavy use of
temporary workers
■ Global competition- requires employees to become
more flexible and cope with rapid change.
■ Global recession-the challenges of working with and
managing people during uncertain times.
Challenges and opportunities of OB
■ Responding to economic pressures
■ Responding to globalization
 increased foreign assignments
 Working with people from different countries
■ Managing workforce diversity
■ Improving customer service
■ Improving people skills
Cont.

■ Coping with “Temporariness’’

■ Working in Networked organizations
■ Helping employees balance work – life conflicts
■ Creating a positive work environment (reflected best
self)
■ Improving ethical behaviour
Organizational Behaviour Model
References

• Robbins, Stephen P., Judge Timothy A., Vohra, Neharika, Organisational Behavior,
15th edition,
• Some publically available graphics and material with due mention of source.